World Development & Relief Committee

Local Projects/Overseas Conferences

PROJECTS IN AFRICA

Wenchi Methodist Hospital - Ghana

The Wenchi Methodist Hospital was established in 1952 by the chiefs and people of Wenchi under the auspices of the then Irish Superintendent Minister of the Methodist Church by name Rev. John Dixon. It started as a Dressing Station in a small room at the current location of the Police Station. The people were dissatisfied with the situation where their sick had to be sent to Sunyani for medical attention. Their strong desire for a hospital made them quickly agree to convert a block of the Methodist School into a ward to facilitate the birth of the hospital

Wenchi, where the Hospital is sited, is the district headquarters of the Wenchi District, one of the biggest districts in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. In the main the people of the district are small-scale farmers, their main produce being maize, yam, cassava, beans and tomatoes. Charcoal burning is done on a large scale mainly by the immigrant Sissala tribesmen from the north.

The Wenchi Methodist Hospital with a bed complement of 100 is a district referral hospital.

The Hospital has the following support services:

• Theatre
• Laboratory
• Pharmacy
• X-ray
  

The Outpatient Attendance to the Hospital for last year was 33,592 from the figure of 29,934 in 2003.It is significant to observe that over the past years the clients/patients attendances have seen a steady rise each year, which shows a growing confidence in our services

The total staff strength of staff at the hospital is 145. There is however no surgeon at post and that is depriving the hospital of a reasonable amount of financial resources.

WDRC have been asked to fund the building of one duplex accommodation unit for qualified nurses. Retaining qualified nursing staff is important for the effective work of the hospital. The hospital is well managed.

£4,300 / €6,450

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